Continuous process centrifuge



Feb 1o, 194s. G, WOOLAVER 2,435,665

CONTINUOUS PROCES S CENTRIFUGE Filed Nov. 9, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 YGeorge Z laolawerg.

INVENTOR.

ATI'DRNEYI Feb. l0, 1948. G, l, WQQLAVER E 2,435,665

CONTINUOUS PROCES S CENTRI-FUSE Filed Nov. 9, 1945 :s sheets-sheet s IN VEN TOR.

AWDFINEYB Patented Feb. 10, 1948 s PATaNr/Lfoi-*Fica coivfi'xlvuousraocass l ydeme,-i.,, Wmbaweainlign-f,NJ. 'application November s. 19,43, serial No. 509,621

My invention relates materials, such as sand containing watenor other mixed uid materials, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of"r an .improved More specifically, I providefaf rotating shell having a central opening at its top lfor the introduction of. materials to be separated, The shell is provided with a central opening at its bottom through which separated or: processed material is discharged. The rotating shell isdivided 'horis (ci. asa-z) to the separationfofiluid `I2. Both sections `are provided with ilanges 20,

about their larger ends and between which is zontally. as by a diskv xedly related to the shell,

to divide the latterinto at least two chambers y or zones interconnected by a throat at Atheperimeterofthedisk. f j' In one chamber an overbalancing initial centrifugal pressure is generated to-iorce the materials through the machine where it will assume orbits oi rotation natural to their respective lgrav. ity characteristics. Each of these orbits is sepa-` deliveries by an excess of initial centrifugal pressure.

as additional material is supplied to the inlet of the machine, so that iiow ofmaterial will occur only when pressure above the dividing wall exceels the opposing pressure beneath the dividing arranged a screen 22.1 .The lscreen andthe two "ilanges are secured into aimitary structure by bolts 24.

is mounted onfa hollow base V2S havinga tubularupstanding post 28. This post is provided with a iiange SIIv upon which is supported an outer bearing race 22.- /A driveshaft 24 extendsjloosely through the-.flange l0, and is 2li rately forced through the machine to separate,

The initial excess pressure is established only 'provided with an inner bearing race '38 kfixed thereto and coacting with the outer bearin'g'ra'ce l2 through the medium of angular thrust rollers Il.

' To the upper end of the shaft 34 is fixedly connected a head 40 to which lare welded four depending and vertically arranged webs 42 posi- 'livery at the axis or the disk. The sneu is shaped with a bulge having its greater diameter lying in the, plane of the disk and provided with a screen about its area of greater diameter for the passage of fluid rejects.

` In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a machine in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a top view partly in section.

\ lfigure 3 is asectional view taken substantially along the line 8-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4`is a sectional view along the line 4-4 r of Figure l. and i Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the screen at the point of largest diameter of the shell.

/In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, I make use of a shell or bowl Il comprising a top section I2 and a bottom sec tioned radially with respect to the shaft 34. 'Ifhe head 40 is keyed at 44 to the shaft I4, and the lower ends of the webs 42 are welded to a horizontal disk 43 lying in the plane of the screen 22 and 'dividing the shell III into chambers 48 and il having communication through the medium of an annular throat 52 lying between the perimeter of the disk 4i and the screen 22.

Webs I4 are bolted at 58 to the disk 48 and at I8 to an annular flange 00 depending lfrom the disk 4l and -constituting an opening in the disk located centrally thereof and coaxially with Athe post 28. While the webs`42 have their outer edges l2 spaced from and generally conforming to the wail of the section I2, the webs I4 have edges B4 lying against the inner .face of the section I4, but having contact therewith only through limited intermediate areas or the section.

A bearing 88 is provided at the lower end of the base 28 for supporting the shaft I4. 'I'his shaft is provided with a bevel gear 68 meshing with a bevel `gear 'IU attached to a shaft 'I2 drivgn by a motor 14. A bearing 1B supports the shaft 12 adjacent the gear 10. a

A screen guard and collector bowl 'I8 enclosesv the greater part of the shell I0 but is spaced therefrom` to provide an annular passage extending downwardly and communicating with an annular `neclr` t2 located beneath the lower end oi Vthe section I4. Material flowing downwardly in the' passage 80 and through the neck 82 may be withdrawn through the medium of a conduit 84. The bowl 18 is stationary and includes a bottom 86 resting on the base 26 and an annular flange 88 extending upwardly but loosely about'thelower end of the ilange 60. Materials flowing downwardly through the flange 60 are received in a trough 90 extending about the post 28 and provided with an outlet conduit 92 leading into the neck 82. The trough is fixed to the flange 88 and closely embraces thepost 28.

Arranged concentrically with and inside the neck 82 is an annularflange 84 extending a short distance above the lower end-of the section |4 and exteriorly thereof. This iange extends upwardly from the` bottom 88 and coacts with the flange 88 to provide an annular trough 06 into which material flows from the section i4. The trough 90 is separate from thetroughSB-and the latter is separate from the neck 82. 'Afn outlet 98 is provided for the trough 98. g

A valve controlled material feeding pipe |00 is arranged above the shell I0, the pipe having a delivery end |02 extending a, short distance inside the section I2 and .to one side of its axis.A

The screen 22 comprises dat rings |04 of the same diameter as the ilanges 20. Washers |06 v,are mounted on the bolts 24 and positioned between the rings |04 to space the rings one from the other. The inner faces oi' the rings are provided with anges |08 which terminate flush with the inside edge .faces of the rings. The flange |08 on each ring is spaced a predetermined distance from the at face of an adjacent ring, the spacing being determined by the thickness of the washers |06, which washers may be changed for other washers of different thicknesses to vary the said post, a bearing supported on said ilange, a

drive shaft journalled in said bearing, a head keyedtothe upper end of said shaft, a plurality oi depending and vertically arranged webs selcured to said head radially of said shaft, said wall spacing between the anges |08 and the cooperi ating rings, depending upon the nature of the material to be screened therethrough.

My invention embodies a pressure and separating zone, a sealing throat below the separating zone, and a counterbalanclng pressure zone beneath the throat, where the now is opposed and stopped at the point of a minimum safe sealing condition, until the addition of heavy material, displacing lighter material in the separating zone, builds up a greater centrifugal pressure to overcome the opposing pressure, thus moving the seal and discharging the excess above balanced requirements.

The material introduced into the shell i0 builds up in the nature of a wall against the shell so that liquids and the like may spill down through the flange 60. The screen 22 vents entralned fluids from the heavier material. The separated material is isolated from the lighter materials. The lighter materials are evacuated from the trough 90 and the neck 82 by gravity, and the separated or processed material from the trough 96 is preferably evacuated by air suction.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readilyadapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

1`. In a fluid material separator, the combina-A tion of a shell having an inlet and an outlet located below the inlet, said shell being shaped with a progressively increasing diameter to a, polntintermediate the inlet and the outlet, a horizontal wall lying in the plane of the larger diameter of said shell and fixedly related thereto, said wall having a.l central opening and being of lauch diameterfs to provide a being secured to the ends of said webs, a plurality ofwebs .secured to said-'wall on the undersurface thereof in vertical alignment with said first mentiond'webs, said last said webs having contact with said shellfwhereby said vwall is iixedly relatedl to saidshelli'or the rotation thereof by said shaft.

2. In a fluid material separator, the combination of a shell having an inlet and an outlet locatedbelow the inlet, said shell being shaped with a, progressively increasing diameter to a point'intermediate the inlet and the outlet. a horizontal wall lying in the plane of the larger diameter of said shell and fixedly related thereto.

said wall havinga central. opening and -being of such diameter as to provide a throat located between lts perimeter and said shell, said shell being mounted on a hollow base having a tubular upstarding post, aiiange at the upper end of said post, a bearing supportedonsaid' flange, a

drive shaft journalled in said bearing, a head keyed to the upper end of sai of depending and vertically arranged `webs se cured to said head radially of said shaft, saidwall being secured to the ends of said Webs, a plurality yof webs secured to saidV wall on the undersuriace thereof ln' vertical alignment vwith said first men.u f i tioned webs,r said last said webs having contact with said'shell, whereby said wall ls iixedly re- 'lated tosaidi -shell for the rotation of said shell .and-saidfwall by said shaft. and a screen in theplane of its largest diam Wall of said shell in the eter.

, 8.-, Ina iluid material separator, the combina- 'tionA ora shell having an lnlet and an outlet ,located;belw the inlet, said shell being shaped withl -afprogressively increasing diameter to a.l

polntfintermediate the inlet and the outlet, a horizontal wall lying in the plane of the larger diameter of said shell and xedly related thereto, said wail having a central opening and being oi' throat located betwee'nfits perimeter and said. shell, said shell bein g mounted on a hollow base having a tubular upstanding post, a flange at the upper end oi.' said post, a bearing supported on said ange, a drive vshait journailed in said bearing, a head keyed to the upper end of said shaft. a plurality of dependlng and vertically arranged webs secured to said head radially of said shaft, said wall being secured to the ends of said webs, a plurality of webs secured to said wall on the undersurface thereof in' vertical alignment with said nrst mentioned webs, said last said webs having contact with said shell whereby said wail is xedly related to said shell for the rotation o1 said shell and said wall by said shaft, said shell comprising two sections, aind a screen interposed between said two sectons. i

4. In a fluid material separator, the combination of a shell having an inlet and an outlet located below the inlet, said shell being shaped with a progressively increasing diameter to a point intermediate the inlet and the outlet, a horizontal wall lying in the plane of the larger diameter ci said shell and iixedly related thereto, said wall d shalt.' a ApluralityA being of such diameter as to provide a. throat located between its perimeter and said shell, said shell being mounted on a hollowbase having'a tubular upstandlng post, a flange at the upper end of said post, a bearing supported on said ilange, a drive shaft journalle'd in said bearing, a head keyed to the upper end of said shaft, a plurality of depending and vertically arranged webs secured .to said head radially of said shaft, said wall being secured to the ends Vof said webs, a plurality of webs secured to said wall on the undersurface thereof in vertical alignment with said rst mentioned webs, said last said webs having contact with said shellwhereby said wall is lxedly related to said shell for the lrotation of said shell and said wall by said shaft, said outlet being of larger dia-meter than said inlet, and said wall having a central opening arranged coaxially of the outlet but separated therefrom.

5. In a iluid material separator, the combination of a shell having an inlet and an outlet located below the inlet` said shell being shaped with a, progressively increasing diameter to a point intermediate the inlet and the outlet, a horizontal wall lying in the plane of the larger diameter of said shell and flxedly related thereto, said wall being` of such diameter as to provide-a throat located between its perimeter and said shell and having a central opening, means for rotating said shell and the horizontal wall, said means including a post mounted on a hollow base, said post having a iiange to receive an inner bearing brace, a driven shaft rotatably supported wall being secured to the ends oi said webs, a. plurality oi' webs secured to said wall on the undersurface thereof in vertical alignment with said ilrst mentioned webs, said last said webs having contact with said shell whereby said wall is Iixedly related to saidshell for the rotation ot said shell and said wall byI said shaft, said shell'comprising a top section and 'a bottom section, a screen interposed between said top and bottom sections, and bolts securing 'said sections and said screen into a lunitary structure` said -top section being Y contoured in thel nature of a. hollow frustum in said bearing brace in said post and provided with a head, and webs lixedly connecting Asaid head with said wall. 6. The invention described in claim 5 wherein` webs are interposed between said wall and the bottom portion of said shell.

'7. The invention described in claim 1, wherein there is provided a receptacle extending about said shell. and a screen interposed in said shell in the plane of its larger diameter and beneath the top limit of said receptacle. Y l

8, Inv a fluid material separator, the combination of a shell having an inlet and an outlet located below the inlet, said shell being shaped with a progressively increasing diameter to a point intermediate the inlet and the outlet, a horizontal wall lying in the plane of the larger diameter of said shell and flxedly related thereto, said wall having a central opening and being of such diameter asV to provide a. throat. located between its perimeter and said shell, said shell being mounted on a hollow base having a tubular upstanding post, a ange at the upper end of said post, a bearing supported on said ange, a drive shaft journalled in said bearing, a head keyed to the upper end of said shaft, a plurality of depending and vertically arranged webs sel 'cured to said head radlally'of said shaft, said with its small end pointing upwardly and said bottom section being of like formation but lnverted to proie t its small end downwardly.

9. In a iluid aterial separator, the combination of a, shell having an inlet and an outlet located beneath the inlet, said shell being circular in horizontal cross section and having an ncreased diameter area located between the inlet and the outlet, a horizontal wall lying in the piane of the larger diameter of said shell, said wall having a central opening and being of such diameter as to provide a throat located between the perimeter of the wall and said shell, said shell being mounted on a hollow base having a tubular upstanding post, a ange at the upper end of said post, a bearing supported on said iiange, a drive shaft journalled in said bearing, a head keyed to the upper end of said shaft, a plurality of depending and vertically arranged webs secured to said head radially of said shaft, said Wall being secured to the ends of said webs, a plurality of webs secured to said wall on the undersurface thereof in vertical alignment with said first mentioned webs, said last said webs having contact withv said shell whereby said wall is fixedly related to said shell for the rotation of said shell and said wall by said shaft.

GEORGE I. WOOLAVER.

REFERENCES crrnn The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

